If a climber who is 6'2" takes a lead fall at the exact same place as a climber who is 5'10", who takes the longer fall?

Assuming you measure the fall from the waist, the taller climber could fall an extra 4" than the shorter climber. Or would it be an extra 8" due to the doubling of the rope? Or would the shorter climber take a longer fall because he's smaller and therefore as a percentage of body length, the fall is longer?

Obviously I'm in no way an expert on the matter, but what do the minds of MP think?

If the climbers are falling from the same place and we're talking about measuring the length of fall from their waist, we assume their waists are at the same height above the last piece, therefore they will fall the same distance

So me and a friend were discussing this at Joshua Tree this weekend. If a climber who is 6'2" takes a lead fall at the exact same place as a climber who is 5'10", who takes the longer fall? Assuming you measure the fall from the waist, the taller climber could fall an extra 4" than the shorter climber. Or would it be an extra 8" due to the doubling of the rope? Or would the shorter climber take a longer fall because he's smaller and therefore as a percentage of body length, the fall is longer? Obviously I'm in no way an expert on the matter, but what do the minds of MP think?

if they're both static, reliable climbers; they will fall the same distance.

however, if one of them is a dynamic, unreliable climber; s/he will fall much further regardless of height. that is, unless s/he can no longer climb because of all the tendon damage that has surely resulted from that style of climbing.

The tall person will fall father, for the simple reason that they're freakishly huge and will yank their reasonably-sized belayer off the ground. Unless we're talking about a tall skinny guy with a short, fat partner. It's my experience that the tall climber will fall more frequently, too.

If you're talking about falling from the exact same footholds then the taller climber will fall farther. If you're talking about falling from the exact same handholds then the tall climber will fall a shorter distance. If you're talking about the knot being at the same point on the route then they will fall the same distance (all other factors being equal).

I'm thinking the tall guy is reaching further from the stance, long arms, therefore works, pulls a bit higher up than the stumpy guy and falls further. Stumpy is working through intermediate moves under the reach of giganto', from same stance so if he falls during the move, his waist should still be much less above the last piece. If he moves up to the same higher holds that 'giganto fell from, well then I suppose his waist is also higher thus a longer fall. This is interesting.

This thread is certainly seeing alot of logic and thinking....not as mindless as many of our usual discussions!

So there is more than one way to interpret the op's question. Graham. Are you asking if both climbers feet are at the same distance above last piece of gear or tie in point is at the same distance above last piece. If they are both standing on the same foot holds, then obviously the tie in point is gonna be higher for the taller person, and yes, a longer fall. Unless taller guy is a twig weighing in at 140 and 6'2" and shorter guy weighs in at 195 and 5'10".

The way we were thinking, we would measure the distance starting at it's lowest point, the feet. Otherwise, the taller climber would surely fall further since his knot is higher than his feet and so are his hands, immediately giving the edge to the taller climber. (if not climbing and ugly OW upside down...) But then at the same time what catches the climber?? the rope, so should we consider the tie-in point instead of the feet?

Crag Dweller wrote:

they're gonna die.

Well played.

Greg D wrote:

More important, is your belayer smoking a cig, drinking a pbr or checking out some babe.

Or a joint. I'm guilty of smoking a cig and probably checking out some hawtie on occasion. However, a joint is something you share IMO.